he Maid was sore
ill-pleased. Now we shall see what happened, as it is reported in the
very words of Dunois, the French general in Orleans. Joan had been
brought, as we said, to the wrong bank of the Loire; it ran between her
and the town where she would be. The wind was blowing in her teeth;
boats could not cross with the troops and provisions. There she sat her
horse and chafed till Dunois came out and crossed the Loire to meet her.
This is what he says about Joan and her conduct.

HOW JOAN THE MAID ENTERED ORLEANS

They were on the wrong side of the Loire, opposite St. Loup, where the
English held a strong fort.[14] 'I did not think, and the other generals
did not think,' says Dunois, 'that the men-at-arms with the Maid were a
strong enough force to bring the provisions into the town. Above all, it
was difficult to get boats and ferry over the supplies, for both wind
and stream were dead against us. Then Joan spoke to me thus:

[Illustration: 'Then spurred she her horse . . . and put out the flame']

'"Are you the Bastard of Orleans?"

'"That am I, and glad of your coming."

'"Is it you who gave counsel that I should come hither by that bank of
the stream, and not go straight where Talbot and the English are?"

'"I myself, and others wiser than I, gave that advice, and we think it
the better way and the surer."

'"In God's name, the counsel of our God is wiser and surer than yours.
You thought to deceive me, and you have deceived yourselves, for I bring
you a better rescue than ever shall come to soldier or city--that is,
the help of the King of Heaven. . . ."

'Then instantly, and as it were in one moment, the wind changed that had
been dead against us, and had hindered the boats from carrying the
provisions into Orleans, and the sails filled.'

Dunois now wished Joan to cross by boat and enter the town, but her army
could not cross, and she was loth to leave them, lest they fell into
sin, for she had made them all confess at Blois. However, the army
returned to Blois, to cross by the bridge there, and come upon the
Orleans bank, as Joan had intended from the first. Then Joan crossed in
the boat, holding in her hand the lily standard. So she and La Hire and
Dunois rode into Orleans, where the people crowded round her, blessing
her, and trying to kiss her hand. Night had fallen, there were torches
flaring in the wind, and, as the people thronged about her, a torch set
fire to the fringe of her banner. 'T